(12

hi< of discrete time sampling in thh frequency domain we

addressed the following question: How long must a visual

stimulus move in order to elicit tracking movements of the

eye? The oculomotor response of human subjects was investi-

gated with a modified ‘Rashbass paradigm’ using a step-ramp

stimulus motion with ramp durations of 15 to 70 ms. It was

found that saccades could be evoked by light stimuli moving

for about hO ms taking ramp movements into account. Presac-

cadic Pursuit Movements in contrast were present in response

to ramp durations of less than 30 ms. The results suggest that

programming of jaccadic eye movements (in contrast to pur-

\uit movements) may be based on time sampling of discrete

nature. povsihly in the same temporal domain as the afore-

mentioned processes.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES OF VISUAL

FUNCTION IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DIABETES

D. t’apako~topoulo~. J.C. Dean Hart, R.J.M. Corral1 and

B. Harney

Burden Neurological Institute. Bristol Eye Hospital. Bristol

Royal Infirmary. Bristol. U.K.

Autonomic neuropathy and retinopathy are amongst the seri-

ous complications of diabetes mellitus. clinically manifested

some years after the diagnosis of the diseaac. There is. how-

ever. some evidence. mainly from psychophysics. that these

complication\ are subclinically present from the early stages

of the disease. Psychophysiological methods have been used in

the present study to investigate 34 insulin dependent juvenile

cliabetlcs with a duration of the disease of h years. Those

patients had a normal ophthalmological examination and nor-

mal colour fundua photography.

The retina was tested by white light. dark adaption and

steady state electroretinography’. The retinocortical transmis-

\ion was tested by flash. pattern and steady atate visual

evoked potentials and the autonomic system by infrared pupil-

lography. Normal values were obtained from 24 subjects. The

white light and steady state retinogram were not affected.

One third of the patients had abnormal dark adaptation

rctinogram. delayed PR-VEPs. diminlshed steady state EEG

and reduced pupil reactivity to light. The results suggest that

extcnslve subclinical abnormalities are pre5ent in early stages

of diabetes, provide objective criteria to detect patients at risk

and offer the mean< to evaluate the impact of treatment

alming to prevent or reverse these complications.

TIIE BASIC STEPS OF WOMEN’S PSYCHOLOGICAL

DEVELOPMENT

Luciana Luisa Papeschi

C.E.U.-Centre for Human Evolution Studies, Rome. Italy

The neuropsychological research on sex-related cerebral dif-

ference\ has been getting more and more interesting in these

last year\.

After having analyzed in a previous research submitted to

the IVth IOP Conference the differential sex-related aspects

of lateraliration processes. we can draw now a psychological

profile of the basic steps of women’s global development.

Through an integrated study of the physiology and of the

neuropsychology of women’s development, WC can see how

women maintain a psychotypology along the whole \pan of

their lives which integrates those behavioural manifestations

which are defined as intuitive, emotional, etc. All thi> is

characterized by a biological substratum controlled by the

genetic programmc. that hampers women to annihilate their

nature hut. rather. to keep the capacity of interacting with

men in order to produce psychological effects of evolutionary

nature.

Given the important role these studies play in the psycho-

logical research for a better identification of male and female

roles, we believe that this paper can be a strong stimulus to

the ‘future’ of psychology.

RESPIRATORY PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ANXIETY

L. Papp. L. Welkowitz. A. Abeshouse, J. German

Columbia University, New York, NY, U.S.A.

A number of recent findings point to complex vrntilatory

changes as etiologically and clinically significant in panic

anxiety: respiratory parameters strongly correlate with self-

rated anxiety; many panic patients are in a state of respiratory

alkalosis. and may be hypersensitive to carbon-dioxide.

At the same time cognitive/behavioral factors, acting par-

tially via the respiratory system, are acknowledged in the

development and treatment of anxiety disorders: breathing

retraining is part ot most successful behavior treatments;

behavioral manipulations significantly alter the results of hio-

logical challenge studies in anxiety disorder patients: and

successful hehavioral treatments of panic. normalize some

biological parameters.

After a brief review of the basic physiology of respiration

the presentation will summarize the role of hyperventilation

in anxiety, and provide the most recent respiratory data in

panic disorder patients using the sodium lactate and CO,

inhalation methods of panic induction.

Taking into consideration the advances made by cogni-

tive/behavioral research an integrative theoretical discussion

will follow with emphasis on clinical practice.

TI 1E DIAGNOSTIC AND SUBSTANCE SPECIFICITY OF

(‘0, INDUCED PANIC

L. Papp. E. Abeshouhe, L. Welkowitz. J. Gorman

Columbia University, New York. NY. U.S.A.

In addition to the specific and powerful biochemical effects of

inhaled gas mixtures, simple physiologic distress like dyspnea,

fatigue and exhaustion are also frequently implicated as pan-

icogcnic factors during respiratory challenge \tudiea in pa-